Mike Abell, 41, of Springfield has been an educator for 19 years, and becoming a principal has always been one of his aspirations.

He will fulfill that dream Monday, Aug. 26, which will be his first day at Marion County High School as its new principal.

“I’m so grateful to have the opportunity,” Abell said after the SBDM council unanimously hired him for the position on Aug. 21. “As a principal, you have such an opportunity to influence more students on a larger scale.”

Boaters and swimmers at Green River Lake are urged to avoid contact with a blue-green algae that can produce toxins that can be particularly harmful to small children, people with illnesses and animals.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued the warning. At this time, Green River Lake remains open for swimming and boating, but the algal cell count is a the cautionary level, based on World Health Organization guidelines.

During last week’s Class A regional golf tournament at Lincoln Homestead State Park, a young golfer hit an errant shot and several people saw it land in a bush next to the fourth green. There’s no doubt that the ball went into the bush and never came out.